October 15, 2010
Putting Strategic Planning into context
The First Fifty Years: Part IV — Patterns of change
Editor’s note: This article is the seventh in a series examining the Catholic Church in southwestern Indiana and its leadership and also the trends in the church and in the larger society. (Download this story as a PDF | See other articles in the series)
Deliberate Pace—1960 through 1964
The Sarto Retreat House and Magister Noster Latin School, planned and built but not without struggle, were dedicated and opened for use in this period of the early sixties. Likewise, the Diocesan insurance commission was formed and in 1963, a diocesan-wide census was conducted
Kordes Hall and St. Benedict College in Ferdinand were put in operation by the Sisters of St. Benedict. In Vincennes, St. Rose Academy was dedicated, while in Loogootee dedication ceremonies for St. John High School were held. In 1962, Nativity parish in Evansville was established on the far East Side and St. Joseph Church in Evansville was renovated.
Made available for divine worship were the following church structures: Holy Name, Bloomfield; Holy Redeemer and Nativity in Evansville; St. Peter, Linton; and Blessed Sacrament Chapel at Crane Naval Depot.
Dictated by a rising number of school age children, several more new schools were added to the list: St. Joseph, Jasper; St. Anthony, Dubois County, in the period when the parish was observing its centennial; Sacred Heart, Vincennes; St. Matthew, Mount Vernon; St. Bernard, Rockport; St. Mary, Huntingburg; St. Francis Xavier, Poseyville; St. James Haubstadt; and Resurrection, Evansville.
As the diocese reached the middle sixties, a continuing growth could be recognized: the number of Faithful now totaled 80,800 in an overall population of 419,530 (1960 census). There were 365 women religious engaged in the apostolate, along with 115 diocesan clergy and 38 men religious. High school enrollment had reached 4,000, and there were 16,800 pupils attending parochial elementary schools.
Patterns of Change—1965 through 1969 . . .
This period opened on a traumatic note for many whose families claimed Assumption Cathedral as their parish, as the property had been sold to Evansville Future, Inc. The buildings were razed, and the property became a part of the present Evansville Civic Center. The last Mass was offered in the Assumption Cathedral by Bishop Grimmelsman on Sunday, January 17, 1965. Holy Trinity was designated as the Pro-Cathedral.
In the same year, and his 75th, Bishop Grimmelsman celebrated his Golden Jubilee of ordination to the priesthood, and four years later, his Silver Jubilee, as bishop. He had worked vigorously in his dedicated efforts for the welfare of the people of the diocese, but the strain and weight of years had taken its toll. His resignation was accepted by the Holy See on October 20, 1965, and Bishop Paul F. Leibold, Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati, was appointed Apostolic Administrator, officially assuming office on November 10, 1965. In the following spring, he was appointed the Second Bishop of Evansville, with installation ceremonies on June 15, 1966, at St. Joseph Church in Evansville.
More Patterns of Change next week.
From deliberate pace . . . to trauma and change
In his history of the Diocese of Evansville, Msgr. Clinton F. Hirsch headlined the period beginning in 1960 as “Deliberate Pace” — switching to “Patterns of Change” for the period starting with 1965.
Change included a “traumatic note” — the closing and demolition of Assumption Cathedral. Other changes included the retirement of Bishop Henry J. Grimmelsman, the installation of Bishop Paul F. Leibold, the impact of Vatican II, movement to the suburbs and the declining size of families.
Listed below are some of the institutions affected by change then, and affected by further changes in recent times.
Sarto Retreat House
Sarto Retreat House continues to serve the diocese, hosting Cursillos, parish retreats and other events. It is also used by other organizations, religious and secular. Among improvements since its opening was the installation of an elevator making the building more accessible to the handicapped.
Magister Noster Latin School
This high school for boys considering seminary and priesthood was opened in 1963 by Bishop Grimmelsman and closed in 1972 by Bishop Shea. In 1976, the building became the Catholic Center, consolidating diocesan offices. The Catholic Center today continues to serve as the diocesan office center. Located on the same property as Sarto Retreat House, it is also a facility available for parishes and other organizations.
Kordes Hall
Kordes Hall, located on the campus of Monastery Immaculate Conception, offers retreats and workshops.
St. Benedict College
The Sisters of St. Benedict opened St. Benedict College in 1914. Doors closed in 1970. The sisters operated Marian Heights Academy, a private Catholic high school, from 1980 until 2003.
St. Rose Academy
1970 was the last graduating year for St. Rose Academy and Central Catholic High School in Vincennes; the two schools were combined into Rivet High School.
The opening date of St. Rose Academy was incorrectly published in the Message, Oct. 8.
According to Vincennes history, the Sisters of Charity opened St. Mary’s Female Academy in 1838; St. Mary’s Academy was re-named St. Rose Academy in 1865.
(Historical information was drawn from Images of Amerca: Vincennes, Copyright Richard Day and Bill Hopper, 1998, published by Arcadia Publishing.)
St. John High School, Loogootee
The parish high school was opened in 1862 and continued operation until 1969. The Martin County Catholic Churches were among the first to embrace the need for collaboration and creative parish staffing. Father Joseph Erbacher is pastor of the four churches in the county, in Loogootee, Bramble, Shoals and Whitfield.
Nativity Church, Evansville
The parish was established in 1962, opening an elementary school in 1963. The school closed in 1972. Among other ministries, Nativity is now engaged in outreach to the Spanish speaking.
St. Joseph Church, Evansville
The parish was founded in 1905, and opened an elementary school in 1906. Ascension School, located at St. Anthony Church, served the two parishes from 1987 until 1988.
Joshua Academy, a public charter school, currently occupies a large portion of the school building.
Holy Name Church, Bloomfield
Holy Name Church in Greene County was founded in 1959, with Father Eugene Heerdink as pastor.
In 1983, under the guidance of Bishop Shea, Holy Name became the first parish in the diocese to be led by a pastoral life coordinator. The pioneer was Benedictine Sister Mary Terence Knapp, followed in 1991 by Benedictine Sister Diane Fischer.
Father Michael Madden became pastor in 2002, adding another parish to his responsibilities, St. Peter Church in Linton, in 2008.
Holy Redeemer Church, Evansville
The parish on the near North Side of Evansville was formed in 1952, under the guidance of the first pastor, Father Lawrence Moll.
The first school, in 1956, housed students and teachers; five Benedictine sisters had living quarters in the building. A convent was built in 1959 and a new auditorium style church was completed in 1960. The present church was dedicated in 1992. In 2002, ground was broken for the current parish and school facility. Dedicaton of the addition was held Nov. 2, 2003.
MSGR. CLINTON F. HIRSCH
Msgr. Clinton F. Hirsch is the author of the “First Fifty Years” of the Diocese of Evansville — drawing not only on historic documents but on his own personal experience.
He was the first priest ordained for the new Diocese of Evansville, along with the late Father Raymond Reising, on Feb. 2, 1945.
Msgr. Hirsch retired in 1991 but continued for several years assisting in the diocesan Tribunal.
Msgr. Hirsch held leadership positions in the diocese throughout his active years, including serving as diocesan administrator during the period between the departure of Bishop Paul F. Leibold and the installation of Bishop Francis R. Shea.
He also authored a series of reflections, including a popular evaluation of the Family Table as the home altar.
Whenever he was asked about his nickname, Hirschy — as in Hershey Bar — he would say it was “the nutty kind.”
Msgr. Hirsch resides at the Mount Vernon Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 1415 Country Club Road, Mount Vernon, IN 47620-9301.